title: Vibroplasty for mixed and conductive hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize new application methods of an active middle ear implant (Vibrant Soundbridge) in patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Publications listed in the Medline/PubMed database.
  
  
  METHODS
  All publications published in English language; search term Vibrant Soundbridge AND floating mass transducer in all fields.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured analysis of all publications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extraction of significant findings and conclusions and audiometric data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modern application methods of an active middle ear implant (VSB) open new therapeutic options for patients with various outer and middle ear diseases resulting in conductive or mixed hearing loss. Titanium couplers can help to couple the active middle ear implant in a standardized way to remnants of the ossicular chain or to the round window. Thus, the active middle ear implant has been established as an alternative treatment option for patients with mixed and conductive hearing. However, the heterogeneity of the studies published so far complicates the analysis of the audiometric results, and thus, the functional hearing gain after VSB implantation varies a lot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan Christoffer
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luers
authors.forename: Karl-Bernd
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hüttenbrink
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zahnert
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bornitz
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beutner
mesh_terms: D001299:Audiometry; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000628:therapy*; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000628:therapy*; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000601:surgery; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium